Counting mechanism



April 14, 1942. I v BUGG 2,279,556

COUNTING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 16, 1959 Sheets-Sheet l 76 1 J 10 a i J A 57 INVENTOR fiat/q 4 ATTORNEYS April 1942; K. cfBuGG 2,279,556

COUNTING MECHANISM J Filed Aug. 16, 1939 3 SheetsSheet 2 I 'IINVENTOR 3 1 'QZ ww w ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 14, 194:

COUNTING MECHANISM Kenly C. Bagg, Farmington, 110., aasignor to Neptune Jersey Meter Company, a corporation of New We am 1a, 1939, Serial No. 290,401

(c1. ass-1) This invention relates to counting mechanisms for computers or the like, the application being a continuation-impart of my copending applicaor replace one or another of these counter assemblies. Repairing or replacement of asingle counter assembly in computers heretofore constructed ordinarily required the return of the entire computer to the factory or repair shop for complete or partial disassembly before the single counter assembLv could be properly repaired or replaced.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a computing device with counter assemblies which are removable and replaceable as units.

It is also an object of the invention to so associate the driving and resetting means of the computer that each counter assembly may be removed and replaced with respect to the supporting frame of the computer without regard to the relative positioning. of the counting elements; that is, irrespective of whether the counting elements are in zero position or not.

Further. since gasoline dispensing pumps are usually located out-of-doors, more or less dust filters into the counting mechanisms tending to clog and cause wear on the working parts. An-

other object of the invention, therefore, is to provide each counter assembly of a computing device with an individual substantially dustproof casing to minimize the infiltration of dust into the working parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in vertical elevation of a counter unit mounted in operative position on the frame of a computing device;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the counter unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken approximately on line H of Figure 2 showing the units counting element, associated transfer mechanism and surrounding casing;

Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line ll of Figure 2, showing the tens counting element and the amociated transfer mechanism;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the counter unit shown in Figure 2, showing the position of the transfer mechanism when the units counting element transfers to the tens counting element; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view on a reduced scale of a computing device showing the upper two counter units mounted in operative position on the computer frame, the right hand counter unit being shown with its casing removed and parts broken away.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 6 of the drawings, a counter unit II is shown assembled in accordance with my invention and mounted in operative position upon the supporting'frame l2 of a computing device. Since the construction of the counting elements and transfer mechanism of the counter assembly is the subject matter of my said copending application, Serial No. 84,659, and a copending divisional application, Serial No. 180,526, flied December 18, 1937, only sumcient description thereof will be given to furnish a complete understanding of the present invention.

The counting mechanism of each counter unit for the computing device comprises a bank of three counting elements or numeral wheels IS, IS, and H in the order of units, tens and hundreds, respectively. Each of the numeral wheels is mounted on a shaft It to receive driving movement therefrom during both counting and resetting operations. The units wheel is frictionally supported on the shaft I! by a clutch 20 which is adapted toi'provide an effective driving connection for the units wheel during movement of the shaft in a counting direction and a releasable driving connection for the units wheel during movement of the shaft in a reverse or resettin direction.

The clutch 20 comprises a flanged sleeve-like member 21 carried by the shaft l8 and a member 22 threadably mounted on the sleeve portion of the member 2! for rotary movement relative to the shaft in directions toward and away from the flange 22 of member 2|. The units wheel I5 is provided with a frictionally engageable hub 24 interposed between the member 22 and the flange 22. A spring 25 coiled about the shaft it with one'end thereof secured to the shaft and the other end secured to the member 22 is adapted to urge the member 22 in rotarymovement toward the flange 23 to effect a driving connection between the hub 24' and the shaft it during both counting and resetting movements. Interposed between member 22 and the hub 24 is a floating washer 26 adapted to give the clutch a sensitive releasing characteristic during resetting movement.

Upon initiation of a counting movement, the rotation of shaft i8 is transmitted to the units wheel through the coactive clutching action of members 2| and 22. The spring 26 tends to rotate the clutch member 22 with increasing force to urge the washer 26 into gripping relation with the hub of the units wheel to thereby providean effective driving connection between the units wheel and' shaft l8. During resetting operations, the spring 25 tends to retract the clutch member 22, but not sufficient to release the units wheel until the wheel engages a zero stop pawl 23. Since the floating washer 26 provides an additional frictional clutch surface, the clutch member 22 is rendered more sensitive to releasin forces.

The tens and hundreds wheels l6 and I! are each frictionally mounted in spaced concentric relation on the shaft I8 by a disc 33 and a series of rollers 3| as indicated in Figures 2 and 4. The

transmission of movement from the shaft i3 to the tens and hundreds wheels during a counting operation is controlled by a transfer mechanism mounted on a longitudinally extending angle member 32. The tens and hundreds wheels are normally held against forward counting movement by pawls 33 and 34 (Figure pivotally mounted on the member 32. Movement of the pawl 33 is controlled by an arm 36, which is also pivotally mounted on the member 32 and biased by a spring 31 to engage a side wall surface of the units wheel. A cam lug 38 is provided on the side wall surface of the units wheel to actuate the arm 36 and thereby pivot the pawl 33 clear of the tens wheel. The tens wheel being in frictional driving relation with the shaft 13, the release thereof by the pawl 33 permits the shaft to move the tens wheel forward with the units wheel. The cam 38 is so shaped, however, as to release the pawl shortly after the pawl disengages the tens wheel so that after the tens wheel has moved one step the pawl is adapted to reengage one of a series of openings 39 in the surface of the tens wheel to hold the tens wheel until transfer movement is again required.

The transfer control between the tens and hun- "dreds wheels is similar to that between the units and tens wheel, except that an arm 43 (Figure 4) pivotally mounted on a member 4| which is conheated by a link 44 to pawl 34 is adapted to be actuated by a cam knob 42 to a position overlapping the pawl 33 at the end of the ninth step of the tens wheel so that upon the tenth step of the tens wheel the pawl 34 of the hundreds wheel is actuated together with pawl 33 to simultaneously release the tens and hundreds wheels.

The tens and hundredswheels are provided with zero stop pawls 43 similar to the units wheel zero stop pawl 28. Upon movement of the shaft l8 in a reverse or resetting direction, all three numeral wheels are adapted to be rotated backwards until they are engaged by their respective zero stop pawls. Upon reaching zero position,

nism may be mounted as a unit upon the frame of a, computing device will now be described.

The transfer control mechanism of the counter assembly which is supported on the angle bar 32 independent of the shaft 83 is held in operative position by mounting the member 32 between a pair of end plates 46 and 46. The end plates are provided with bearings 41 for rotatably supporting the shaft 3. The angle member 32 is held in place between the end plates by a plurality of positioning lugs 43. Tie rods 63 with spacer sleeves 6| are provided at the four comers of the end plates 46 and 46 to secure the plates in spaced relation, the tie rods extending beyond the plate 46 to provide securing means for mounting the counter assembly upon the frame of a computer. The tie rods are provided with nuts 32 and 63 to clamp the end plates in position against the spacer sleeves 6i and the angle member 32, The extended portions 66 of the tie rods 63 (Figure 2) are adapted to protrude through openings formed in the frame l2 sothat nuts 6'! may be applied for securing the counter assembly as a unit upon the frame i2.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, the upper two counters l0 and Ma are shown mounted in operative position upon the supporting frame i2 of a computer. The driving mechanism of the computer includes a gear 63 adapted to be driven by a meter or other source of power under control of a meter during dispensing operations. The resetting mechanism of the computer includes a mutilated gear 63 adapted to assume each numeral wheel is held against further backward rotation during the remaining portion of the resetting cycle.

Having thus briefly described the counter mechanism which forms the subject matter of my said copending applications, the features of the present invention whereby such counting mechadriving relation with counters to and Ma during resetting operations to return the counters to zero position. A pair of bevel gears 33 and 3| are carried by a shaft 32 mounted on the frame l2 at right angles to and adjacent the axes of gears 53 and 66 to transmit the 'movement of one counter to the corresponding counter on the opposite side of the computer frame. The resettin mechanism for the computer which controls the release of gear 68 and the movemnt of gear 36 during resetting operations is the subject matter of my copending application, Serial No. 290,402 filed August 16, 1939. Since the present invention is not concerned with the particular resetting mechanism, further description thereof is believed unnecessary.

The shaft 3 of each counter unit is provided with a double gear comprising a set of ordinary cog teeth 64 and a set of beveledteeth 36. Referring to counter unit l3, gear teeth 34 and 36 are adapted to mesh with gears 63 and 33, respectively. The connecting relation of the gears 6334 and 63-36 is such as to permit the mounting and removal of the counter unit in a direction axially of the shaft I3. For example, all that is necessary in mounting the counter unit upon the frame I2 is to move the unit into position in a direction axialiyof the shaft l3 so that the tie rods 63 enter openings 63, the gear teeth 34 and 36 being adapted to move immediately into meshing engagement with gears 63 and 33. Likewise, the gear teeth 64 and 66 of the corresponding counter unit i3a are adapted to be brought into meshing relation with gears 63 and 3| upon mounting the unit Na in position upon the frame l2. Shims 33 are provided between the nuts 63 and the frame l2 to properly adjust the meshing engagement of the driving gears.

Since the several counter assemblies of the computer may be simultaneously reset to zero position, irrespective of the settings of the sevas indicated in Figures 1 and 3. The casing is closed at the facing by a plate 12 which is provided with turned in end portions 12a and is adapted to fit over the outer edges of the portion 10 to which it is secured by screws ll. The facing I2 is provided with appropriately spaced windows 14 through which the several numeral wheels may be viewed. Since the drive shaft is the only moving. part which extends through the casing, it will be apparent that the casing provides a substantially dustproof enclosure for the counter assembly.

While I have shown only one form of counting mechanism and one assembling and mounting arrangement, it will be apparent that other counting devices may be substituted and that many modifications of the assembling and .mounting arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. It should therefore be understood that the constructions herein illustrated and described are intended to be illustrative of the invention and not to limit the scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In counting mechanism having a supporting frame and driving means including a pair of gears for transmitting counting and resetting movements respectively; the combination of a counter assembly adapted to be removably mountedas a unit upon said frame in coactive relation with said driving means, said counter assembly comprising a plurality of counting elements, a shaft operatively associated with each of said elements-and gear means carried by said shaft for operative association with said pair of gears, and means for removably securing said counter assembly in operative position on said frame, the mounting and removal of the unit being in a direction axially of said shaft.

2. In counting mechanism having a supporting frame and driving means including a pair of gears for transmitting counting and resetting movements respectively; the combination of a counter assembly adapted to be removably mounted as a unit upon said frame in coactive relation with said driving means, said counter assembly comprising a plurality of counting elements, 9. gear equipped shaft operatively associated with said elements and means for effecting transfer movement from the counting element of lower order to counting elements of higher order, and means for securing said elements, shaft and transfer means as a unit in operative position on said frame, the mounting and removal of the unit being in a direction such as to place the gear equipped shaft into or out of operative connection with the gears of said driving means.

3. In counting mechanism having .a supporting frame and driving means operatively associated therewith for transmitting counting and resetting movemeng; the combination of a counter assembly adapted to be removably mounted as a unit upon said frame in coactive relation with said driving means, said counter assembly comprising a plurality of counting elements and a shaft operatively associated with said elements,

Iii)

a pair of end plates to rotatably support said shaft, and means for holding said end plates in spaced relation including members for securing the counter assembly as a unit to said frame with said shaft in operative relation with said driving means.

4. In counting mechanism having a supporting frame and driving means operatively associated therewith for transmitting counting and resetting movements; the combination of a plurality of counting elements, a shaft operatively associated with said elements, transfer means including a longitudinally extending member and transfer mechanism supported by said member for transferring movement from the counting element of lower order to elements of higher order, a pair of end plates for rotatably supporting said shaft, means for supporting said longitudinal member to maintain said transfer mechanism in operative assembly, means cooperating with said longitudinal member for holding said end plates in spaced relation, and means cooperating with said holding means for securing the counter assembly as a unit in operative position on said frame.

5. In counting mechanism having a supporting frame and driving means operativel associated therewith for transmitting counting and resetting movements; the combination of a counter assembly adapted to be removably mounted as a unit upon said frame in coactive relation with said driving means, said counter assembly comprising a plurality of counting elements and a shaft operatively associated with said elements, a pair of end plates for rotatably supporting said shaft, means including tie rods and sleeves for securing said end plates in spaced relation, and means associated with said tie rods for securing the counter assembly as a unit in operative position on said frame.

6. In counting mechanism having a supporttion with the counting and resetting gears of said driving means.

7. In counting mechanism having a supporting frame and means including a pair of gears disposed at right angles to each other for transmittng counting and resetting movements; the combination of a counter assembly adapted to be removably mounted as a unit upon said frame in operative connection with said gears, said counter assembly comprising a plurality of counting elements, a shaft operatively associated with said counting elements for transmission of counting and resetting movements thereto, gear means carried by said shaft for meshing engagement with said pair of gears, and means for removably securing said counter assembly upon said frame in a direction to bring said gear means into mesh with said pair of gears.

8. Counting mechanism comprising a frame having openings therethrough, driving means supported by said frame, resetting means supported by said frame, 9. counter unit somprlsing a plurality of. wanting elements, a shaft assomated with said elements and a casing therefor including tie rods adapted to be received in the openings of said fl'sme, means associated with said shaft and adapted to be hroughl; into spars,- tiv relation with said driving means and said resetting means when said saunter unit is mounted upen said frame, and means associated with said tie rods for securing said unit to said frame.

9. A computing device comprising a frame, 2, gear for tmnsmtting (0011mm mevemems opera tively mounted on said frame, gem Km: lslms Knitting resetting movements spemtlvely mounted on said frame at a distance from said count trzmsmitfing gear, transmission means including a shaft-and a. pair of gears extending between the count and reset transnflttlng gears, one 0! said pair of gears being disposed adjacent; said KENYA? C. BUGG. 

